Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. ChrysostomNot as accusing the disciple, but as desiring to teach us, how great an evil it is not to commit all toGod, but to trust to one’s self. But do thou admire the tender care of his Master, who, though aprisoner and bound, took great forethought for His disciple, raising Peter up, when he was down,by His look, and launching him into a sea of tears. 2418“They lead Him therefore from Caiaphas to Pilate.” 2419This was done, in order that the number of His judges might show, even against their will, howfully tested was His truth. “And it was early.” Before cock crow He was brought to Caiaphas, earlyin the morning to Pilate; whence the Evangelist shows, that being questioned by Caiaphas duringan entire half of the night, He was in nothing proved guilty; wherefore Caiaphas sent Him on toPilate. But leaving these things for the others to relate, John speaks of what follows next. Andobserve the ridiculous conduct of the Jews. They who had seized the innocent, and taken up arms,do not enter into the hall of judgment, “lest they should be polluted.” And tell me, what kind ofpollution was it to set foot in a judgment-hall, where wrong-doers suffer justice? They who paidtithes of mint and anise, did not think they were polluted when bent on killing unjustly, but thoughtthat they polluted themselves by even treading in a court of justice. “And why did they not killHim, instead of bringing Him to Pilate?” In the first place, the greater part of their rule and authorityhad been cut away, when their affairs were placed under the power of the Romans; and besides,they feared lest they should afterwards be accused and punished by Him. “But what is, ‘That theymight eat the Passover?’ For He had done this on the first day of unleavened bread.” Either he callsthe whole feast “the Passover,” or means, that they were then keeping the Passover, while Hedelivered it to His followers one day sooner, reserving His own Sacrifice for 2420 the Preparation-day,when also of old the Passover was celebrated. But they, though they had taken up arms, which wasunlawful, and were shedding blood, are scrupulous about the place, and bring forth Pilate to them.Ver. 29 . “And having gone out, he said, What accusation bring ye against this man?”[4.] Seest thou that he was free from 2421 fondness for rule and from malice? For seeing Jesusbound, and led by so many persons, he did not think that they had unquestionable proof of theiraccusation, but questions them, thinking it a strange thing that they should take for themselves thejudgment, and then commit the punishment without any judgment to him. What then say they?Ver. 30 . “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.”O madness! for why do ye not mention His evil deeds, instead of concealing them? Why do yenot prove the evil? Seest thou that they everywhere avoid a direct accusation, and that they can saynothing? That Annas questioned Him about His doctrine, and having heard Him, sent Him toCaiaphas; and he having in his turn questioned Him, and discovered, nothing, sent Him to Pilate.Pilate saith, “What accusation bring ye against this man?” Nor here have they anything to say, butagain employ certain 2422 conjectures. At which Pilate being perplexed saith,2418εἰς δάκρυα καθέλκων2419Ver. 28 . “ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment; and it was early; and they themselves wentnot into the judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover. ” N.T.2420or, “ waiting for His, ” &c., “ on. ”2421al. “ from their. ”2422al. “ but in certain. ”464